Nick Pappas—a teenage boy with nascent superpowers—has his world turned upside down when he’s taken into witness protection after his superhero father is murdered on national television. But things are not what they appear to be in the small town to which he’s relocated. He soon discovers that not only is it populated with family members of super villains, but it’s also a prison and he’s considered one of its most dangerous inmates. He can’t be sure who to trust, and to make matters worse, he’s developing powers of his own—with no way to control them.

This novel is pretty weird. There’s a lot of unusual stuff going on from the start, but that alone is its biggest draw. Its distinct plot is very well thought out. Characters are relatable. The message of the story is pretty straightforward, yet blends surprisingly well with quirky, uncanny storytelling.

The ending is pretty messy, or maybe that is the authors’ intention. Through all the twists and turns, ups and downs, highs and lows, mystery, weirdness and curiosity, I guess the authors themselves had a pretty challenging time figuring out how to end the book.

The message is clear, and I guess many young adult readers will relate and conform. Character development is not given much priority. I’m not really a fan of the sudden appearance of characters into a storyline. And supporting characters are not really introduced or developed well.

Again, it is messy. It is weird. Unorthodox. Mysterious, thrilling in a very absurd but pleasurable way. It feels like reading in a loop that never ends. It’s mind-boggling and twisty yet interesting and fun. Overall, very fine and original for its genre.

• Kevin Velayo